Liverpool player Luis Diaz has been joyfully reunited with his father following the harrowing kidnapping incident involving their family. Last month, Luis Manuel Diaz, 58, and his wife were abducted by members of Colombia’s guerilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). While Diaz’s mother was promptly rescued by the police, his father endured a 12-day ordeal with the captors.
Describing his experience upon his safe return, Luis Manuel Diaz shared, “It was a lot of horseback riding, really hard, a lot of mountains, a lot of rain, too many insects. I couldn’t sleep peacefully; it was very difficult, almost 12 days without sleep.”
On Tuesday, Luis Diaz was able to reunite with his family upon arriving in Colombia during the international period. The 26-year-old first met his parents in the Colombian capital of Bogota before proceeding to his national team’s base in Barranquilla.
The national team expressed the emotional reunion on social media, stating, “This was Lucho’s exciting meeting with his father Mane Diaz and his family. We love you, and we are more united than ever! We are all Colombians.”
Brazil is scheduled to play a World Cup qualifier in Colombia on Thursday night, followed by Los Cafeteros’ trip to Paraguay.